Famous Throughout the Xiao Family

Early the next morning, Xiao Ying was already waiting in the main hall. "Why is that child still not up? The atmosphere of cultivation in the family has been getting more and more intense lately. Could it be that Jin'er cultivated too late last night, so he still isn't up even though it's nearly noon?"

With that thought, Xiao Ying said to a servant beside him, "Go see whether the young master is awake. Tell him to come to the main hall for breakfast." "Yes." The servant answered and headed toward Xiao Jin's room.

When he reached the door, he knocked softly. "Young Master, it's time to get up. The master has asked you to go to the main hall for breakfast."

"Got it."

A lazy voice came from inside the room. Xiao Jin crawled out of bed. In this world without phone alarms, he still found it rather hard to get used to things. He slowly got up, poured himself a cup of last night's cold tea from the tea table to rinse his mouth, washed his face in a copper basin, and headed for the main hall.

As he walked, he continued thinking that this world had many inconveniences. There was not even anything for brushing teeth. He wondered whether the young ladies here had bad breath. If a beautiful young lady took a liking to him but had bad breath, should he kiss her or not? Xiao Jin let his imagination run wild all the way.

"You finally got up, brat. Did you go stealing chickens last night? Why are you only getting up now?" Xiao Ying smiled at Xiao Jin as he entered the hall.

"A Dou Sheng expert passed down his teachings to me in a dream last night, so I got up late." Xiao Jin said jokingly.

Naturally, Xiao Ying did not believe him. Smiling, he patted Xiao Jin on the shoulder. "You really know how to talk nonsense. Hurry up and eat breakfast. Afterward, come with me to the Training Ground." Xiao Jin answered and sat down at the table, wolfing down his food.

After breakfast, Xiao Jin followed Xiao Ying to the Training Ground. Quite a few Xiao Family juniors had already gathered there. When they saw Xiao Jin, they all looked curious. "Why did the Second Elder bring Xiao Jin here?" one junior asked his companion. "No idea. Maybe Xiao Jin made a breakthrough, and the Second Elder brought him here to test it."

A young girl was currently being tested on the field. Her brows resembled distant mountains brushed with dark ink. Though she still had the appearance of youth, the shifting light in her eyes carried a soft, rippling charm, like a stream thawing in early spring—clear and limpid on the surface, yet concealing a tender allure that could seep into one's heart. She was Xiao Mei of the Xiao Family.

Xiao Mei walked before the Magic Stone Tablet and gently pressed her fair little hand against it. Golden light flashed, and five large words emerged: Dou Qi Stage Seven. Xiao Mei sighed. She had already been at Dou Qi Stage Seven a year ago. She had not expected that, even after working hard for an entire year, she still had not broken through to Stage Eight. With disappointment written all over her face, Xiao Mei walked off the platform.

"Miss Xiao Mei, don't be discouraged. The Dou Qi stages are difficult to cultivate in the first place. Going from Dou Qi Stage Seven to Dou Qi Stage Eight in a single year would have been difficult even for Xiao Huohuo back then."

"That's right. Reaching Dou Qi Stage Seven at fifteen is already outstanding, Miss Xiao Mei. There's no need to sigh." Seeing Xiao Mei's dejected expression, several of her simps immediately went up to her and fussed over her attentively.

"Tch, a bunch of simps." Xiao Jin said disdainfully. Of course he knew who Xiao Mei was—Xiao Huohuo's cousin. Before Xiao Huohuo lost his talent, she had been very close to him, and had even once been viewed as a romantic rival by Xiao Huohuo's future wife.

After Xiao Huohuo lost his talent, however, she had gradually grown distant from him. It was obvious that Xiao Mei admired the strong. There was no way she would take a liking to this pack of simps before her.

Xiao Jin shook his head and walked toward the Magic Stone Tablet. "I wonder whether Young Master Xiao Jin has reached Dou Qi Stage Six in the past year?"

"I think he probably made a breakthrough. Otherwise, why would the Second Elder personally come to watch Xiao Jin's test?" The people below discussed among themselves as they watched Xiao Jin walk onto the platform.

Xiao Jin stepped before the Magic Stone Tablet and slapped his palm against it. Golden light flashed, and the words Dou Qi Stage Seven appeared! The surroundings instantly fell silent, as though everyone had turned to stone. A moment later, gasps rang out everywhere.

"How is that possible?! Xiao Jin actually broke through to Dou Qi Stage Seven!" a Xiao Family junior cried out in shock.

"Exactly! Breaking through two Dou Qi stages in one year—only Xiao Huohuo managed that back then, right?" As soon as those words fell, the crowd erupted.

Even Xiao Ying was stunned. "Wasn't he at Dou Qi Stage Six? How did he become Stage Seven?" However, Xiao Ying quickly recovered.

What followed was overwhelming joy. Since Xiao Jin had broken through to Dou Qi Stage Seven, he would not be assigned to one of the family's businesses after the Coming of Age Ceremony two months later. Even Xiao Mei, standing below the platform, could not help secretly glancing at him.

She knew about Xiao Jin's talent. After all, he was also the descendant of a high-ranking family member, so he naturally received some attention. Xiao Jin's talent had only been average. He had started cultivating qi at the age of three and had only reached Dou Qi Stage Five last year. Such talent was not the worst in the Xiao Family, but it was nothing remarkable either. Yet in only one year, he had broken through two stages.

That should have been absolutely impossible with his previous talent. Had he found some kind of trick? Should she ask him about it? Xiao Mei thought.

"Hahaha, good! As expected of my grandson, Xiao Ying's grandson! You've truly brought glory to your grandfather!" Xiao Ying's figure flashed, and he appeared before Xiao Jin. He gave Xiao Jin's shoulder a heavy slap, nearly knocking him off balance.

"Grandpa, are you trying to slap me to death?" Xiao Jin rolled his eyes at the old fart in front of him and let him figure it out himself.

Xiao Ying scratched the back of his head. The corners of his mouth twitched awkwardly, and his eyes were full of apology. "Ah, I'm really sorry. Grandpa forgot that you're still weak and used a little too much force."

Looking at the old man before him, who had always kept his emotions hidden in front of outsiders but was now openly showing such embarrassment, Xiao Jin felt a pang in his heart. It was all because his former self had been so disappointing. He had not expected his grandfather to have such a side to him. The old man was actually kind of adorable.

"By the way, good grandson, didn't you say you had only broken through to Stage Six? Why are you at Stage Seven today?" Xiao Ying looked at Xiao Jin in confusion.

"Oh, that? Didn't I say it this morning? I dreamed that a Dou Sheng expert passed his cultivation to me, and when I woke up, I was at Stage Seven. Isn't that amazing?" Xiao Ying was speechless. Copying Xiao Jin, he rolled his eyes. "Fine, don't say it if you don't want to. At least come up with a better excuse."

"By the way, Jin'er, how is your Dou Technique training going? There will be a challenge segment during the Coming of Age Ceremony. Don't let some brat at Dou Qi Stage Six challenge you across a level and beat you then. Your grandfather can't afford that embarrassment."

Xiao Ying looked at Xiao Jin solemnly. In his view, Xiao Jin had likely spent most of the past year cultivating Dou Qi in order to break through two stages in a row, so he naturally would not have had time to practice Dou Techniques.

Thinking of that, Xiao Jin was not entirely sure either. "Linglong, can the system increase Dou Technique proficiency?" "Ding. The host can use Breakthrough Points to purchase Dou Technique Proficiency Cards in the System Mall, thereby increasing Dou Technique proficiency." Xiao Jin felt rather helpless. This system was really greedy for money.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I won't disappoint you then." Xiao Jin looked at Xiao Ying expectantly. "But Grandpa, I cultivated so diligently this year and broke through two stages in a row. Is there a reward?"

Xiao Ying looked amused. "What reward do you want? Since you brought Grandpa such glory today, whatever you want, Grandpa will agree to it."

"Really? Then I want one hundred thousand gold coins." Xiao Ying staggered and snapped irritably, "No! Pick something else." Of course Xiao Jin knew he did not have that much. He had only said it to test the old fart's limits.

"Then you decide." Xiao Jin pretended to look utterly disappointed. "Stop acting. Do you think I don't know you? Ten thousand gold coins. Take it or leave it." Xiao Ying looked as though he had seen straight through him, then took several money pouches from his Storage Ring.

"I'll take them, I'll take them! Only an idiot would refuse." Xiao Jin snatched the gold coins from Xiao Ying's hand as fast as lightning and strode away, leaving behind only Xiao Ying, who had yet to react, and Xiao Mei, who had been about to come over and speak with him.

News of Xiao Jin breaking through to Dou Qi Stage Seven quickly spread throughout the entire Xiao Family. Everyone who heard it wore expressions of utter disbelief.